Cardiovascular Psychology Health Behaviour and Education

Rationale:

Underpinning concepts: what is psychology and different ways it is managed (health and clinical psychology), role of psychologists and psychiatrists, delivery styles, the role of psychologists in CVD prevention and rehabilitation programmes, the roles and responsibilities of all health-care professionals in managing client/patient behaviour and mental well-being when delivering the core components of a CVD prevention and rehabilitation programme

Module Code:

XN7416

Level:

7

Credits:

20

Cost:

Contact Admissions

Module Aims:

The module seeks to provide the student with an understanding of the psychological factors that contribute to successful rehabilitation of the cardiovascular patient. It includes elements of both mental health and health education and behaviour.

Is there a coronary prone personality? An examination of the stress diasthesis approach. A description and critical analysis of the Type A Coronary Prone Behaviour Profile. Putting personality back into cardiovascular disease - The Type D profile.

Negative affective states and their role in primary and secondary cardiovascular episodes. An examination of the importance of hostility, anxiety and depression in cardiovascular patients. Scales to measure affective states.

Patients' perceptions of illness. Patients' attributions concerning cardiovascular disease and how these impact on rehabilitation. Descriptions of the Transtheoretical Model dealing with 'readiness to change' and Leventhal’s model of patient perception of illness of disease, including time course and cure.

Social support in cardiovascular disease. The role of the spouse. Different mechanisms through which social support operates.

Psychological issues in cardiovascular surgery. Anxiety and depression as predictors of outcome following stent or bypass surgery. Psychological preparation of the patient prior to surgery.

Neuropsychological associated with cardiopulmonary bypass. The extent of neurological and neuropsychological deficit (NPD) following CABG surgery The ‘core battery’ of neuropsychological tests for assessment of NPD following CABG surgery.

Assessment of Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). Generic and disease specific questionnaire measures of HRQoL, including psychosocial and emotional outcomes. The relationship between HRQoL outcomes and NPD following CABG surgery

Causal pathways for psychological variables. Is the impact of mood status in cardiovascular disease mediated through pathogenic behaviours or through direct physiological processes? Exploration of changes in autonomic reactivity to stress and endothelial variables associated with affective states.

Psychological interventions in the clinic: An examination of the role and effectiveness of psychological intervention in cardiovascular rehabilitation.